Organised by Department of Social Sciences and Languages · NMKRV College, Bengaluru
Rethinking Sustainability through the Lens of Indian Knowledge Systems
Established in 1973 by Sri. Meda Kasturiranga Setty and Smt. Nagarathnamma Meda Kasturiranga Setty, NMKRV College (NMKRV) reflects a vision of providing quality education that nurtures capable and responsible individuals.
Under the management of RV Educational Institutions (RVEI), the college began with 150 students and a commitment to offering meaningful educational opportunities to learners from all backgrounds.
Over the past fifty years, NMKRV has grown into a respected institution, now serving more than 2,500 students with the support of nearly 150 faculty members. The college continues to invest in its facilities and resources, ensuring students can pursue their academic and personal development in a supportive environment.
Research and inquiry are integral to the college’s approach, spanning fields such as arts, physical sciences, life sciences, commerce, management and languages.
NMKRV places a strong focus on academic rigor and innovative approaches, fostering an environment where students can engage deeply with ideas and build confidence. Education at the college encourages meaningful contributions to society and supports learners in reaching their goals and making a lasting impact.
India’s ancient wisdom, rooted in holistic worldviews and ecological harmony, has enormous potential to address contemporary global challenges outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The integration of the traditional Indian Knowledge System (IKS) with the SDGs offers an opportunity to localise and culturally embed sustainable and inclusive development, while promoting culturally grounded practices. These traditions, though originating in ancient contexts, demonstrate a profound ecological consciousness, an emphasis on both individual and collective well-being and an ethical framework aligned with contemporary goals for inclusive and sustainable development. In this context, the Government of India (GoI) has undertaken several measures to strengthen institutions, including the establishment of the ‘Indian Knowledge Systems Division’ under the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises indigenous learning and the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) advocates localising SDGs through traditional practices.
These efforts reflect development models that are not only environmentally sustainable but also socially inclusive and culturally resonant. However, challenges remain in terms of systematic documentation, scientific validation and mainstream acceptance of IKS. Therefore, the conference will focus on a multidimensional approach that combines traditional wisdom with modern science, policy support and educational reform.
The conference will emphasise the need to preserve, adapt and scale these knowledge systems to create resilient and sustainable futures. Additionally, it will explore the synergies between IKS and the SDGs, highlighting how traditional practices can align with the global agenda for 2030. In an era of uncertainty, integrating IKS and the SDGs fosters sustainability through traditional practices, bridging the gap between modern science and ancient wisdom.
After submission to Taylor & Francis for production:
These proceedings are from the International Conference on Indian Knowledge System and Sustainable Development Goals (ICIKSASDG 2026), which was organized by NMKRV College, Bengaluru, India.
Editorial decision-making and oversight of peer review were conducted by Dr. Mahantesh B. Havani, Assistant Professor & Head, Department of Economics, NMKRV College, Bengaluru, and Ms. Shwetha Sudhakar, Assistant Professor, Department of History, NMKRV College, Bengaluru, in association with the Conference Programme Committee comprising academicians and subject experts.
Peer review was conducted by a pool of independent academic experts drawn from the Programme Committee and the wider academic community, who were selected based on their subject expertise to review the submitted abstracts and full papers under a double-blind review process.
Taylor and Francis played no part in the choice of editors or peer reviewers for these proceedings.
To explore the role of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in achieving sustainable development.
To promote interdisciplinary research integrating traditional wisdom with modern science.
To highlight indigenous practices contributing to sustainability in various sectors.
To foster collaboration among scholars, policymakers and practitioners for IKS promotion.
To identify institutional policy and epistemological barriers hindering the integration of IKS into mainstream SDG discourse and implementation.
To strengthen cultural identity and community participation in sustainable development.
The full paper submitted should be the original work of the author(s) and must not have been published elsewhere or submitted simultaneously to any other conference, journal or publication. All submissions will be subject to rigorous peer review, AI and plagiarism checks. All the abstracts and full papers should be plagiarism-free (allowed up to 10% as per UGC norms). Authors are required to ensure proper citation, footnoting, and referencing of all sources used in their research, following APA 7th edition guidelines. All the paper presenters and participants will receive a certificate.
Full Research Papers must follow the following format:
All submissions must be in English.
Authors are invited to submit their full chapters electronically to email ID after the acceptance of the abstract.
All manuscripts will be accepted for publication based on a peer-review editorial process.
Authors should submit their original work that must not be submitted for publication elsewhere.
Full papers should be about 5500-6000 words (including abstract).
The paper will not be accepted if the scientific quality is insufficient and/or plagiarised.
Abstract: (title of the paper, keywords and author affiliation with a brief bio note).
Full Paper: 5000-6000 words (including foot notes/end notes/references)
Formatting: Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 scaling, References-APA 7th edition style.
Full paper submission Email: conference.nmkrv@rvei.edu.in
Important dates:
All submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the Conference Review Committee. Authors whose abstracts meet the required quality standards will be invited via email to submit their full papers within the specified timeline. Selected papers may be considered for publication in Scopus-indexed or international peer-reviewed journals, subject to applicable conditions. Papers may also be included in an edited ISBN volume published by a reputed national or international publisher.